“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.” —Colossians 3:15
In Colossians 3:15, Paul does not suggest thankfulness as a seasonal virtue. He binds it to peace, to calling, to community. “Let the peace of Christ rule…”—not visit, not whisper, but rule. And in that ruling, be thankful.

This is no coincidence. Gratitude is the gatekeeper of relational peace. Without it, even the holiest intentions sour into entitlement. With it, even fractured fellowship can be mended. Gratitude softens the soil where forgiveness might take root.
In relationships—marriage, friendship, church family—gratitude transforms duty into delight. It reframes the mundane as incredible. When we thank God for the people He’s placed in our lives, we begin to see them not as obstacles or obligations, but as those loved by and care for by God (as well as made to bear His image). No, gratitude does not ignore flaws, for only Christ is flawless. But rather it says, “I am thankful for this person.”
Philippians 1:3 echoes this: “I thank my God in all my remembrance of you.” Paul writes this from prison, yet his gratitude flows freely. He does not wait for perfect circumstances or perfect people. He thanks God in remembrance—despite his trials and tribulations.
Gratitude also guards against comparison. In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, we are told to “give thanks in all circumstances.” Not for all circumstances, but in them. This is a bold kind of gratitude—a refusal to let bitterness dictate our lives. It is the kind of gratitude that says, “Even here, God is good. Even now, I will give thanks.”
In the refuge of relationships, gratitude is both shield and sword. It protects against resentment and pierces through pride. It reminds us that every person is a gift, not a guarantee. That every moment shared is a gift from the Lord.
So let the peace of Christ rule. Not just in your heart, but in your home. Let gratitude be the theme of your conversations, the undercurrent of your corrections, and the basis of your prayers. Let it be the lens through which you see your spouse, your children, and the congregation.